Why Compassionate Coaching Gets Results

Do you remember your favorite class, where your hand cramped up trying to capture all of the great information coming so fast?

Last month I got to go to back to school for one of my favorite classes. I plan to share what I learned with you in a 4-part series.

I traveled to the Weatherhead School of Management in Cleveland for their inaugural Coaching Research Lab (CRL) event*. The CRL is a partnership between researchers who study coaching and the organizations who benefit from it. Four faculty researchers presented recent findings on what works in coaching – from neuroscience to organizational impact.

I was excited – even inspired – looking at slides of fMRI images of the brain and statistical correlations.

Those of you who know me can stop laughing now.

Seriously though, the science itself is truly fascinating. But my inspiration – that came when I considered what this scientific news means for the rest of us. News that might convince more people to use a compassionate approach to making changes – with themselves, with others, and with organizations.

While much more study will be needed, the early evidence is clear: compassionate coaching gets results. It’s a process that produces positive, sustainable changes. Here are the key findings from the research:

Coaching with compassion increases the likelihood of a person sustaining their change efforts over time.

Coaching someone into a positive emotional state increases the client’s focus on setting goals and striving to attain them.

Emotional and social intelligence positively impacts job performance, work engagement, and career satisfaction among senior leaders.

In the next 3 posts in this series, I’ll be writing more about the studies and how I plan to use them with clients as a career coach and as an executive coach.

And like any good student, I’m going to keep on experimenting now that class had ended to see what happens next!

*With appreciation to Dr. Ellen Van Oosten and the Coaching Research Lab at Case Western Reserve University for graciously granting permission for me to share about this invitation-only event on 8/28/14.

Coaching with empathy and compassion allows us to truly connect with our clients and hear their needs. Coaching the whole person rather than simply following our own coaching agenda will help others to move forward in their lives in the best way possible for them!! Great advice! Thank you for sharing!

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JESSICA WORNY JANICKI773-844-8483

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About Career Sparks

Welcome to my blog!
Years ago my graphic designer Kathleen Kenney said that when I talked about my work, I used images of light. That spark of light she put into my logo reminds me of why I became a coach in the first place.

I feel lucky to get to learn about careers from my clients every day. I'll share some of my discoveries with you here, and perhaps something will spark an idea for your own career.

And if you join my email list or Twitter feed, I promise not to bug you all the time!